Bid for traffic calming at death site was rejected

Emma Partridge

A REQUEST for speed calming measures in the Kingsgrove street where five-year-old Kevin Quintal was struck by a car and killed was denied by a council traffic advisory committee four days before the tragedy.

Hurstville Council was due to officially reject a request for a speed hump in Vivienne Street last week after a comprehensive study showed speed was not a concern.

Request for a speed hump was due to be officially rejected ... the corner of Vivienne Street and Kingsgrove Road. Photo: Sahlan Hayes

Mayor Jack Jacovou said the council would wait until the coroner had completed a report before adopting any of the committee's recommendations.

He said the council would organise an audit of all streets near the school in the new year with the help of police and Roads and Maritime Services.

''While speed was not a factor in [last] week's accident, we are mindful of local residents' concerns and we will await the results of the upcoming audit to determine whether action is warranted,'' Cr Jacovou said.

According to a report, another request for traffic calming measures in the street and nearby St Elmo Parade was denied by the committee in July 2011 after a senior traffic engineer, who had reviewed crash data, said they were not needed.

Kevin was walking to school with a backpack filled with Christmas cards for classmates when he was struck by a four-wheel-drive as he walked across the road with his mother, Marilyn, and two siblings last Tuesday morning.

Family and friends will farewell Kevin at a service in Kingsgrove on Wednesday.